Message from the President

My dear colleagues, 

As I write this letter, our country is deeply divided on how we view the world, our nation’s narrative, and even the guiding principles we once held to be self-evident. 

In spite of — and because of — the developments such as the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation remains keenly focused and committed to safeguarding the status of women in the United States and around the world, their reproductive rights, and health equity for all. And, at the same time, promoting equal representation in medical leadership and research.  Recognizing outstanding and exemplary lifetime achievements by women in Medicine, Science and Public Health remains a core mission.  

We believe that understanding history shapes the present and offers hope for the future. Accordingly, a deep respect for history informs all that the Foundation does to recognize and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of women in the sciences.   

This fall, mental health pioneer Myrna M. Weissman, PhD, will receive our highest honor, the Alma Dea Morani, MD Renaissance Woman Award. Every time we organize this annual ceremony and celebrate our community of individuals who truly care for each other, it revives my optimism.  

Another upcoming highlight: 2022 Alma Dea Morani Awardee and preventive medicine and women’s health visionary JoAnn Manson, MD, DrPH, MACP, will add her voice and viewpoints to our Alma Dea Morani Renaissance Women in Medicine Oral History Project. 

Initiatives such as the HUB and the Maria Cerny Brabb Scholarship will continue to thrive, supporting and inspiring new generations of women addressing the salient challenges to improve health.  

While our work is grounded in history, we also recognize the need to evolve so we may address trends in health equity and inclusion more effectively. The Foundation needs strong, strategic partnerships to do so, which led us to form an accomplished Leadership Advisory Group to help support our expert Board of Directors.  

I love this country.  I also love my native country of Haiti and the world.  Our collective actions in North America and beyond must revive our desire and ability to maintain human connections as we face seemingly divisive sociopolitical problems – problems that threaten the livelihood of children, women, families and communities at large.  And yet, so much good can be achieved when we do it together. 

Being a grandmother, mother, aunt, friend, I cannot be pessimistic. Each day children remind me of that.  I am reminded of a time when one of my grandchildren, then age 2, turned to me and said, “Grandma, take my hand. Grandma, sit with me.” Reflection, introspection and examining what values we uphold is critical to the work of the Foundation.  

In all their innocence, children instinctively ‘get’ that need for connectivity. We should not lose it along the way—as individuals, as a nation or as a world. 

Now, I extend my hand in welcome and solidarity to you. 

I encourage you to join our 1849 Society, engage with us online by sharing your thoughts and suggestions on how we can advance our mission, and look out for even more ways to be active Foundation members and partners in our work. 

We can accomplish great things and forge a more equitable future in which all can reach their full potential. But we cannot do it alone. 

I look forward to building a better world with you. 

Danielle Laraque-Arena, MD, FAAP
President, Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation